After a week of uncertainty, the United States and Mexico reached an agreement in which Mexico will work to stem the tide of migration across its southern border and into the United States, while the Trump administration agreed to forgo the implementation of a 5 percent tariff on the import of goods from Mexico. In releasing the Joint U.S.-Mexico Declaration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that “The United States looks forward to working alongside Mexico to fulfill these commitments so that we can stem the tide of illegal migration across our southern border and to make our border strong and secure.” The negotiations resulted in the following commitments:

Mexican Enforcement Surge: Mexico will increase enforcement to curb irregular migration, which will include the deployment of its National Guard throughout Mexico, giving priority to its southern border. Mexico will take “action to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations as well as their illicit financial and transportation networks.” Both the United States and Mexico have committed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including information sharing and coordinated actions to better protect and secure their common border.

Migrant Protection Protocols: The United States will expand the implementation of the existing Migrant Protection Protocols across its entire southern border, meaning that persons crossing the U.S. southern border and seeking asylum “will be rapidly returned to Mexico where they may await the adjudication of their asylum claims.” Mexico will authorize the entrance of all such individuals for humanitarian reasons, in compliance with its international obligations, while they await the adjudication of their asylum claims. The United States has committed to work to accelerate the adjudication of asylum claims and to conclude removal proceedings as expeditiously as possible.

Both countries also agreed that should these measures not have the expected results, the parties will take further actions: “[T]he United States and Mexico will continue their discussions on the terms of additional understandings to address irregular migrant flows and asylum issues, to be completed and announced within 90 days, if necessary.”